Mixing or detector circuit



Dec. 23, 1952 G. DIEMER Erm. 2,623,167

MIXING 0R DETECTOR CIRCUIT Filed April 29. 1949 aan arc/mmf? WGA/,4.45 Z.

I N V EN T0 RS. GBSINUS DILQWER KIUVFLLS WIER KNL Patented Dec. 23, 1952 MIXING OR DETECTOR CIRCUIT Gesinus Diemer and Kornelis Swier Knol, Eindhoven, Netherlands, assignors to Hartford National Bank and Trust Company, Hartford,

Conn., as trustee Application April 29, 1949, Serial No. 90,422 In the Netherlands May 14, 1948 7 Claims. A(Cl. Z50-20) .The present invention relates to mixing or detector circuits comprising means by which the phase angle of the mutual conductance is continuously varied during each cycle of the local oscillations. Use may be made of a so-called transit-time tube, in which the deflection of an electron beam is controlled under the action of the local oscillations and of the incoming wave, the beam ultimately striking one or more anodes from which the intermediate frequency output voltage is taken.

This improved circuit-arrangement is characterized in that in the discharge tube wherein the electron beam is produced and which comprises a system forthe deflection of the beam, which system is influenced both by the incoming wave and by the Wave produced locally, the beam is deflected in two diierent coordinate directions with different phases and, upon deflection, strikes an anode consisting at least of two parts and to which the output circuit is connected, the control of the beam and the construction of the anode being such that if exclusively the signal Wave or the locally produced wave exercises a deflecting influence, no alternating current appears in the output circuit, whereas in the case of vdeiiection by both waves simultaneously a current of the difference frequency appears in the output circuit.

The arrangement is preferably such that the point of impact of the beam on the anode, in the absence of a signal voltage, moves approximately along a closed curve constituting the line of demarcation between the two anode parts.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into effect it will now be described more fully with reference to the' accompanying diagrammatic drawing, given by way of example.

In-Fig.1, the' reference numeral I designates a. cathode, 2 denoting an element by which the electrons emitted by the cathode are formed into a beam. This beam'moves between the pairs of deflection electrodes 3 4. 5 6, 1 8 and 9 I0 and eventually strikes an anode consisting of two annular parts II and I2. These parts are insulated from one another and connected to the ends of a tuned circuit I3 which is tuned to the difference frequency of incoming oscillations and oscillationsproduced by a local oscillator, which circuit I3l is coupled .to a circuit I4 which is also tuned to the said diierence frequency. From the latter, the lintermediate `frequency oscillations are taken for further usal.'

Yvlilta .ges,' for instance Avof the ilocal i oscillatorY frequency, which may be represented by V0 sin wat and V0 sin (wot-i-90) are applied to the pairs of deection electrodes 3 4 and 5 6 across the oscillatory circuits I6 and I1 tuned to the local oscillator frequency, so that the voltage set up at the electrodes 3 4 is displaced in phase by 90 with respect to the voltage set up at the electrodes 5 6. Similarly, voltages of the signal frequency, which may be represented by Vs sin est and Vs sin (MH-) and consequently also displaced in phase by 90 with respect to one another, are applied to the electrodes 1 8 and 9 I0 across the circuits I8 I9 tuned to the signal frequency. The local oscillator voltagey is chosen to be such that, in the absence of a signal voltage, the point of impact of the beam on the anode moves substantially along the circular line of demarcation I5 between the two parts I I and I2. The appearance of a signal voltage at the electrodes I B and 9 I0 results in that the diameter of the circle along which the impact point moves, is varied periodically, the period of these variations being equal to the difference between the local oscillator frequency and the signal frequency, and the amplitude of the variations being equal to the radius of the circle described by the impact point if only the signal voltage were operative. Consequently, an intermediate frequency current may be taken from across the anode rings II and I2, the conversion mutual conductance corresponding to the static mut-ual conductance. Voltages of a frequency diierent from the difference frequency do not occur.

Fig. 2 represents a simplified circuit-arrangement comprising only two pairs of deflection plates 2li-2l and 22-23. The voltages Vo sin wut and Vs sin est set up in the circuits I6 and I8 are operative in series between plates 20 and 2|. The circuits I1 and I9 in which the voltages V0 sin (w0t-}-90) and Vs sin (MSH-90) are operative are connected in series between plates 22 and 23. The remaining part of the arrangement corresponds to that shown in Fig. l and the operation of the circuit-arrangement is` exactly similar.

The said arrangements may also be used for wave lengths exceeding 3 m.

What we claim is:

1. An electrical circuit arrangement for mixing a iirst wave and a second wave to produce an intermediate frequency wave, comprising an electron discharge tube comprising -means to form an electron beam and to direct said beam along a given path, deflecting means arranged A -about said given path for deecting said beam in two coordinate directions and an anode structure comprising rst and second conductive portions separated by an insulating path having the configuration of a closed curve, means to apply said first Wave to said deiiecting means to cause said beam to define a. trace substantially coincident with said insulating path, means to apply said second wave to said defiecting means to cause said beam to impinge selectively on said first and second conductive portions of said anode structure at a frequency equal to, said. intermediate frequency, and an output circuit-coupledV to said anode structure.

2. An electrical circuit arrangement for mixing a first wave and a second wave to produce an intermediate frequency wave, comprising an electron discharge tube comprising means to. form an electron beam and to direct said beam along a given path, deflecting means arranged about said given path for deecting said beam in two coordinate directions and an anode structure comprising rst and second annular conductive portions separated by a continuous insulating path, means to apply said first wave-1tosaid deflecting means to cause said beam to define a trace substantially coincident with' said insulating path, means to apply said second wave to saiddeiiecting means to cause said beam to impinge selectively on said first and second con-- ductive portions of said anode structure at a frequency equal to said intermediate frequency, and an output circuit coupled to saidanodeV structure.

3. An electrical circuit arrangement for mixing a first wave and a second wave to-produee-an intermediate frequency wave, comprising an elec-Y tron discharge tube comprising means to form an electron beam and to direct said beam along a given path, first, second, third and fourth pairs of deecting elements arrangedV about said given path for deflecting said beam in two coordinate directions and an anode struc ture comprising first and second annular conductive portions separated by a continuous insulating path, means to apply said first wave to said first pair of defiecting elements in a first given phase and to said second pair of deflectingelements in a second phase substantially in phase-- quadraturev with said first given phase therebyto cause said beam to define a trace substantial-- ly coincident with said insulating path, means to4 apply said second. wave to said third pair ofv deiiecting elements in a third given phase andto said fourth pair of defiecting elements in a fourth phase substantially in phase quadrature with said third phase thereby to causesaid beam to impinge selectively on said first and second conductive portions' of said anode structure at a frequency equa-1v to said intermediatefrequency, and an output circuit coupled to said anode structure.

4. An electrical circuit arrangement for mix-- ing a first wave and a second.l wave to producean intermediate frequency wave, comprising an electron discharge tube comprising means tofcrm an electron beam and to direct sai'dbeam along a given path, rst, second, third and-fourth pairs of deecting electrodes arranged about said given path for deflectingV said beam. in twocoordinate directions and an anode structure comprising first and second annular conductive-portions separated by a continuous insulating path, means to apply said rst Wave to said first pairof deflecting electrodes in a first given phaseV and with a rst given amplitude and to said second pair of deiiecting electrodes in a second phase substantially in phase quadrature with said first given phase and with a second given amplitude thereby to cause said beam to define a trace substantially coincident with said insulating path,vmeans to apply said second wave to said third pair of deflecting electrodes in a third given phase and to said fourth pair of defiecting electrodes in a fourth phase substantially in phase quadrature with said third given phase therebyv to cause said beam to impinge selectively on saidrst and second conductive portions of said anode structure at a frequency equal to said intermediate frequency, and an output circuitA coupled to. said anode structure.

5'. An electrical circuit arrangement for mixing a rst Wave and a second wave to produce an intermediate frequency wave, comprising an electron discharge tube comprising means to form an electron` beam and to direct. said beam along a given path, first. and'` second; pairs of. de ecting elements arranged about. said given path for .de'ecting said beam inv two coordinate direotions and; ananode. structure comprising'. first; andy second annular. conductive portions separated-by a continuous insulating path,4 meansY to. apply saidv rsttwave. to. said first. pair of de.- iiecting elements in` a, first given: phase and. to. said second pair` of de'ecting elementsina second phase substantially in phase quadrature` withv said; first, given phase to; causesaid beam to. define av trace substantially.; coincident:` with said; insulating. path means to.` apply said sec.- ond; wave .to said: first pair 4ofidefiectingY elements, in ai third given phase and tot said second pair of1deiiecting elementsin a fourth phasesubstan'- tially in phase quadrature with-saidl third given phase thereby to cause saidbeam to impingese.- lectively onzsaidr firstand second conductive,` portions ofsaid. anode: structure at aV frequency equal toVV said intermediate frequency; and an output circuit coupled to said` anode structure;

6. An electrical circuit arrangement for mixing a rst wave` and; a second wave to. produce anintermediate, frequency;- wave,- comprising an electron discharge; tube comprisingmeanstoform an electronA beam-'and' to: direct. said beamalong a given pathfirst and:secondjpairsof deiiecting. electrodes arranged; about said given. path. for deiiecting said beam, in two; coordinate; directions andan anode structure comprising rst and second annularY conductive portionsl sepa-- rated by ya continuous insulating` path-meansl to; apply said first wave tof saidiirstgpair ordeflectingelectrodes in` aI first givenxphase land with.. a f

given amplitude and to said: second pair of de,- iiecting electrodes-ina second phase substantially: in phase quadrature with said first: phase. and: with said givenV amplitude thereby; to cause-said beam to define af trace, substantially coincident with said insulating path,. means. to applysaid.`

second-wave to said rst` pair of, deflecting. elec;- trodes in a Vthird given, phase :andto. said; second:

pair of defieoting electrodes in. afourthaphaseV substantially in phase; quadrature withi said-third given phase; thereby izo-cause said beam to iin-- electron discharge tube comprising means to form an electron beam and to direct said beam along a given path, deectng means arranged about said given path for deecting said beam in two coordinate directions and an anode structure comprising first and second annular conductive portions separated by an annular insulating portion, means to apply said rst Wave to said deectinfg means to cause said beam to dene a circular trace substantially coincident with said insulat- 10 ing portion, means to apply said second Wave to said delecting means to cause said beam to impinge selectively on said first and second conductive portions of said anode structure at a frequency equal to said intermediate frequency, and an output circuit coupled to said anode structure.

\ GESINUS DIEMER.

KORNELIS SWIER KNOL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Numbei Name Date 1,983,172 Heintz Dec. 4, 1934 1,988,621 Hansell Jan. 22, 1935 2,201,323 Shelby May 2l, 1940 2,241,027 Bumstead May 6, 1941 2,528,187 Sziklai et al Oct. 31, 1950 

